Dengue activity remains ‘rampant’ in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan death toll now at 174

More than 300 additional dengue fever cases were reported in Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City Monday, bringing the total cases in the southern city to nearly 14,000 since the summer.

Image/CDC

Nationwide, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak reported a total of additional 363 indigenous confirmed dengue cases in Taiwan on Monday including 316 cases in Kaohsiung City and 34 cases in Tainan City.

The number of new cases reported in Kaohsiung City last week is up by 20% from that reported during the week before last week, indicating dengue activity remains rampant in the city. The majority of the reported cases occurred in Sanmin District, Fongshan District, Cianjhen District and Lingya District.

The Kaohsiung City Government has continued to mobilize people from 14 agencies under the government and mobile squads to partake in dengue prevention and control efforts. Simultaneously, health education for the prevention and control of dengue fever for village and neighborhood chiefs had been conducted.

In Taiwan, as of Monday a cumulative total of 37,224 indigenous dengue cases, including 22,563 cases in Tainan City, 13,952 cases in Kaohsiung City and 251 cases in Pingtung City. In addition, 16 new deaths associated with dengue infection, including 10 women and 6 men, were confirmed this week. All resided in Kaohsiung City.

To date, a cumulative total of 174 deaths, including 112 deaths in Tainan City, 60 deaths in Kaohsiung City, and 2 deaths in Pingtung City, were found to be linked with dengue infection.